Trailer truck



HSJIGJS Aug. '14, 1923.

i L. E. U'TTERET Al.

TRAILER TRUCK F`led Jan. 2, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 `HIIIIIH ttozuety 1 Our invention relates to Patented Aug. 14, 1923.

retiree LEE E. UTIER AND RALPH E. HOWLAND, OF NASHOTAH, NISCONSIDL .ASSIGBTORSv TO TRAILER TRUCK COMPANY, OF NASHOTAH, WISCONSIN, A COPARTNERSHIP.

' TRAILER TRUCK.

Application led January 2, 1918. Serial No. 209,902.

VVaukesha, and State of Wisconsimhave' in'- vented new and useful, Improvements in Trailer Trucks, of which the following 1s aspeciication. A

trailers ofthe type designed to increase the length of a truck by providing an ordinary four Wheeled vehiclehaving a truck platform, with a detachable extension adapted to be supported from the rear endVv of the main vehicle and from a trailing pair of auxiliary wheels.

The primary object of our invention is to, provide means whereby the trailer wheels may be made to track properly when advancing along curved lines, and whereby Vsuch wheels may be properly guided when backing, and' kept in the roadway even when backing around corners.

Another obiect of our invention is to provide a trailer of the class described which Y can be Veasilyp'attached to any truck and which, when detached, will leave the truck platform free of obstructions.

A third object of our invention 1s to provide means to facilitate unloading a truck of the class described. f

A fourth object of our invention is to provide means vwhereby tilting movements of the load over the bolster of the `trailer may be prevented, thereby relieving the trailer from destructive twisting strains. s A. fifth object 4of our invention is Vto-combine the bolster of the trailer with a load supporting spring in such a manner thatV both may turn upon a central pivot bolt or,

king bolt having a vertical axis.

In the drawings l 1 i Figure 1 is a sidey elevation of our improvedV trailer `as it appears when attached toja truck. Y Y n Y FigureQ is a plan view of the same. Figure 3 is a rear elevation. VFigure 4t isa front elevation of a unitwhieh is fastened to the truck platform when the trailer fis in use.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the means for operating' our unloading device.-

`fitted with shackle 3 to which the reach of the trailer may be attached. On the platform 2 of the truck, we, mount the bolster unit shown in Figure L1. lt comprises a bed plate 4 whichis pivoted by a vertical king bolt 9 to the bolster 5. A load supporting roller 6 is secured between the bolster stakes 7. A metal wear plate8 is secured to the bolster 5, and interposed between it and the bed piece 4 and is made suiiiciently strong to withstand strains; The whole unit is connected with the truck bed simply by the king bolt 9, and it may therefore be merely lifted from the platform '2 when the trailer is detached.` Y

Near the rear end of the truck platform 2, we preferably provide a roller 12 having trunnions mounted in the two bearing members 13 fastened to the platform. rl`his `roller is depressed below the level of roller 6. i

The trailer unit is constructed as follows: The reach 15 is pivoted by bolt 16 to shackle 3 and extends rearwardly therefrom. A

.strap 17 secures the reach to the axle tree 1S to which the metal axle 19 is bolted, and

-the wheels 20 are mounted upon the rigid aXle'19. The bolts 22 which `hold the axle also serve to tie the euds'of the upper and thru any one of a number of holes 9.8 in the reach to hold the trailer in the desired position of longitudinal adjustment. lt is of course understood that the trailer may be adjusted at any 'point along the reach 15 Y and that Aany length `of lreach may be used in certain positions of adjustment. The

`reach may not 4extend behind the trailer.

Above the axle, the spacing members 30 carry a rotatable bearing plate 31 which is pivoted by bolt 32 to the upper bearing plate 33 which supports the bolster plate V34. Clips 36 secure a transverse spring 3i' to this bolsterv plate. The springs 37 sup;- port the bolster bar39, and an equalizing bar' 38 is pivoted to this bar 39 at one end,

` with the other end in sliding connection "with vend oii bar 38.

ers.

the plate 34. Janother equalizing' bar 38 is pivoted to the plate 34- and has sliding connection with the bar 39 above the sliding At the central crossing point these bars 3S and 38 are pivotally connected with each other. The bolster stakes aresupported from trame member V39 by special rigid plate el, and areV liournaled to receive the shatt oit rollers. 42. A gear wheel il-3 is mounted on the end et the roller shaft and meshes with gear let which is supported 'from the bolster stake. The squared shaft end is adapted to be actuated by a .removable lever 4G,

Figure l), for the purpose ot turningu t e rollers 4t2 by means of gears i3 and eil. To vcounteract the tendency ot the upper part of the bolster to tilt Jorwardly or backwardly, we provide the rectangular yoke 4S which is carried by two supports 'lhe reach passes thru yoke 4S, thus limiting; the vertical movement of the yoke, while permitting a certain degree ot lateral movement of the reach when the trailer is turning a corw ner. i

ln use7 our improved trailer operates as follows: The iront bolster unit ot the trailer is preferably mounted directly above the rear axle ot the main truck. lt the load is such that the small roller 1Q will be needed, it is positioned at the rear end ot the truck platform below the level ot the bolster roll- The reach oi the trailer is then connected to the rear end et the truck platform and the wheel base or distance between the rear wheels ot the truck and those ot I the trailer is adjusted to the desired length by moving` the trailer axle backward or 'forward along' thereach until pin 26 regi*- isters with a suitable hole QS in the reach. rlhe hounds 24.? and i2?) and the traine or yoke 4B supported by arms i9 will hold the trailer upright in position Vto receive the load. the latter restingV upon the rollers 6 and rollers Ll2 on the main truck and trailer respectively. The truck, with trailer attached` is adapted to receive and carry a wagon box or a load ot lumber or any other loadcapableotbeing supported on` these rollers. lt Alumber or the like is carried. it may be unloaded without etliort by using;l handle ll'G to rotate roller 42,thus causing' the load to roll rearwardly. Then the t'ront end. ol the lumber leaves roller (3, it will be received byA roller' 12 which is low enough so that it doesnot ordinarily touch the load` except at times et unloading and so will not friction 'ally contact with the load when cornersV are being` turned. By thetime the load leaves roller 12, its center ot gravity will be past roller l2 andv it will vgradually tilt and slide to the'ground over the trailer.

lllh'en the load to be carried is ot such a character that the rollers are n ot needed they may be omitted and the 'liront and rear holsters used like those ot any wagon. But the advantage ot providing rollers for use when needed in an assemblage ot this kind is obvious.

lllhen the truck and tra-iler turn a corner, the load. pivoted on bolts 9 and 32 at the front and rear, adopts the position ot a chord to the circle transcribed by the wheels. lt will be noted that the spring,` 37 oi" thev trailer is a part of the bolster, and that inasmuch as the latter is rotatably mounted on the plate 3l, the spring' is relieved from the torsion which would result if it were secured to the axle.V The bolster is tree to turn within the limits allowed bythe yoke` or trame 48, and this iframe is made ot suiiicient length to permit any necessary relative turning movement ot lthe bolster whenl the truck passes around corners. Hence, altho the device operates substantially as a six wheeled truck, there is no binding or cramping at corners. without the trailer, the latter with its parts that are mounted on the truck proper may be detached in a very short time, leaving the truck tree troni encumbrances. Y Y

Vile claim:

l. A two-wheeled trailing attachment tor trucks having an axle provided with a tor- `nraidly projecting' reach,- in combination with bolster centrally pivoted to swing about a vertical axis,` said bolster having a spring supaorted load carrying bar provided withv a dependingyoke.; whichV loosely embraces the reacl, and is adapted to limit forward and backtilting' movements ot said bar. wit-hout interfering` with nor-` mal oscillatory movements ot the bolster about said vertical pivot axis.

2. A two wheeled,trailing attachmentltor trucks having,` ari-axle provided with a torwardly projectingv reaclnf in combination with a bolster' centrally pivoted to swing' abonta vertical axis, said bolster having a spring' supported load carrying bar provided with a depending' member.y loosely enlllhen itis desired to use the truck' llt) gagged witha relatively stationary portion otV 'Y these structures',l and adapted to limit torward and back tilting movements oit said bar, without interfering with normal oscillatory movements of the bolster about said vertical pivot- Vaxis. said spring supporting'` form, and adapted to permit the 4bolster to rotate on a vertical airis7` thetwo wheeled trailer member being also provided with a rotatable bolster, and a, yoke secured thereto and loosely embracing the reach bar, whereby tilting movements of the bolster are limited.

l. In e trailer attachment for trucks, the combination with the axle of the trailer of :i spring supported bolster member, and a reach having slotted bearing oon- 10 neetion with the axle, below the bolster mem- LEE E. UTTER. RALPH E. HOWLAND.

Witnesses LEVERETT C. WHEELER,

0. C. WEBER. 

